In Idaho, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or more, but you should not wait for a high BAC to call a cab. If you consume any alcohol, call a cab, use a rideshare app, designate a driver, or find another ride home. Why? It’s simple – any amount of alcohol can impair your driving.
How Alcohol Affects Your Driving Ability
Alcohol reduces the function of the brain, which can create feelings of relaxation and euphoria. Unfortunately, the substance can also impair thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination, so it doesn’t put you in the best position to drive.
If you’ve ever had one drink after work and noticed that it helped you unwind, then you understand how even one drink could make your driving less safe. If alcohol can help you forget about that deadline, it can definitely make you forget to check your blind spot.
A BAC of only .02% can make it hard for you to track other cars and hazards on the roadway and perform the multitasking needed for driving. At .05%, you may experience reduced coordination, difficulty steering, and a reduced response time. By the time you’ve hit the legal limit (.08%), you won’t be able to perceive the road correctly, control your speed, process information, or concentrate on driving. Anything higher than .08%, and you’ll be swerving all over the road, unable to brake correctly, and incapable of controlling your vehicle at all.
To play it safe, arrange another way home on any night you plan to have a drink. If you order a spontaneous drink at dinner, call a taxi, Uber, or Lyft and come back for your car in the morning.
Can’t You Just Walk Home?
Walking home is always a better option than drinking and driving, but if you’re under the influence, it may not be the best choice. If you walk while impaired, you could become the target of criminals, and you may not be as aware of cars as you should be.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “almost half (47%) of crashes that resulted in a pedestrian death involved alcohol for the driver and/or the pedestrian.”
This statistic suggests that if you’ve had anything to drink, you should avoid being on the road altogether. If you have to walk home, ask a sober friend to walk with you and look out for cars, or just call a cab to help escort you home safely.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
Arranging another way home after one drink helps make sure you won’t get a DUI, but everyone slips up every once in a while, and some restaurants serve drinks that are way too strong. If you’ve been pulled over with alcohol in your system, May, Rammell & Wells can help you obtain the most favorable outcome in your case.
Even if you choose to walk or take a cab home, something could go wrong. Fortunately, our firm can also help with pedestrian accidents and car crashes – even if they involve taxis or rideshare drivers.
We also know that some nights, you’re not drinking at all, and a negligent driver simply causes an accident. Our firm can help with that, too. At May, Rammell & Wells, we pride ourselves on providing experienced representation for clients from all walks of life and all types of cases. We have 70+ years of combined experience, and we are ready to help you understand your rights and legal options.
Call us at (208) 623-8021 or contact us online to discuss your case today.